Worcester's new ‘car classic’ to be family-friendly

Out with the smoky burnouts, bikini contests and noisy helicopter rides. In with children-friendly scavenger hunts and games, a classic car cruise through the city and an antique car auction.

The new Cars of Summer classic car event — not to be confused with the New England Summer Nationals — will be held July 4 through July 7 in Green Hill Park. “We want to stress that we’re not the Summer Nationals,” said one of the Cars of Summer’s organizers, Marissa Brown of Webster.

She said a group of car enthusiasts and business owners collaborated to create a new summer car show to be held at Green Hill Park, the former site9 of the Summer Nationals. City officials approved plans for the new car show last month.

“We have no affiliation with the Summer Nationals. We’re making the Cars of Summer a more family-friendly event.”

The New England Summer Nationals car show has been moved to Thompson International Speedway in Connecticut after being held in Worcester for 22 years. Ms. Brown said other organizers include Roger Steele and Gray Cooper of Worcester, David Smaltz of Oxford and Austin Beliveau of Auburn.

The group had attended the Summer Nationals every year for years.

“We watched the show changing (over the years),” Ms. Brown said. “The three things that really drove people away were the burnouts, swimsuits and the helicopters.”

She said a lot of car enthusiasts approached her and the others saying they wished the car show would remain in Worcester. It sounded like a feasible idea, so they approached the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to see if the department would be open to a new car show.

“They’ve been fantastic,” Ms. Brown said.

Ms. Brown said there already has been a lot of enthusiasm for the Cars of Summer classic car show. The new website has had more than 1,700 hits.

The New England Summer Nationals used to be held at Green Hill Park as well as downtown. All the events of the Cars of Summer classic car show will be held at Green Hill Park, with the exception of a classic cars cruise through different parts of the city on July 4, 5 and 6. The show will feature a live antique auto auction and car corral for a chance to buy or sell an antique car. Every paid admission will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an antique car. Organizers are promoting the event as family-friendly, with a kids’ zone and interactive games. Children younger than 12 will be admitted free with an adult paid admission. A scavenger hunt for children and adults is planned.

In addition to classic cars, antique cars, hot rods, street rods, retro, exotic and specialty cars, there will be live bands, food vendors, product vendors, entertainment, a swap meet area and an outdoor movie in the park. In the past, the Central Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau said, the local Fourth of July car show had a major impact on local businesses. Donna McCabe, president of the bureau, said local tourism officials have a meeting scheduled with organizers next week to discuss how they can assist in marketing and promoting the summer car show.

Ms. McCabe said she does not have a lot of information yet, but is looking forward to hearing more details.

“We are certainly happy there is an event coming in,” Ms. McCabe said.

Ticket, schedule and event information can be found at www.carsofsummer.com. Tickets also can be purchased at Brook Motors, 603 Southbridge St, Auburn; Nancy’s Breakfast Place, 500 Washington St., Auburn, and at the gate.

Contact Linda Bock by email at lbock@telegram.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.